Robber Says He's Victim Of `Madman'

A robber convicted of urging his gun-wielding accomplice to execute three people defiantly proclaimed his innocence Tuesday as he stared down a possible death sentence.

John Jacob "J.J." Chamberlain, 23, maintained that he was forced at gunpoint to participate in the 1998 Thanksgiving Day robbery of a West Palm Beach home where his cohort Thomas Thibault shot three roommates.

"I would have been better off being a fourth victim that night rather than standing up here today," said Chamberlain in the closing minutes of his sentencing hearing.

Chamberlain's fate now rests with Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Marvin U. Mounts Jr. who must decide whether the Lake Worth man will spend the rest of his life in prison or go to Death Row. Mounts' decision isn't expected until sometime early next year.

Mounts gave Thibault three death sentences in August for the killings of Bryan Harrison, 21, Charlotte Kenyon, 26, and Daniel Ketchum, 27.

In his 42-page ruling in Thibault's case, Mounts wrote that Chamberlain's role in the robbery was "roughly equal" to the gunman. The judge found that Chamberlain directed Thibault to execute two of the three victims so that there would be no witnesses left behind.

A jury convicted Chamberlain in February of three counts of first-degree murder after both Thibault and a second accomplice, Jason Dascott, testified against him. Dascott received a plea deal for a 10-year sentence after prosecutors determined he testified truthfully.

Thibault testified Chamberlain ordered him to kill Harrison and Kenyon after he shot Ketchum in the head when Ketchum tried to wrestle a .45-caliber handgun from him.

After Thibault emptied a clip of bullets at Harrison and Kenyon, Harrison was still alive, Thibault said. The gunman said that's when Chamberlain went to get a second clip from his car that was used to finish off Harrison.

Chamberlain said Tuesday that he's now being punished for being a victim of that "madman Thomas Thibault." Chamberlain accused Thibault of perjury as well as the case's lead police detective, prosecutors and other witnesses.

Chamberlain's family testified Tuesday that he became withdrawn as a child after two older cousins came to live with his family and started bullying him around. Chamberlain always was more of a follower than a leader, according to his mother and stepfather.

Before Chamberlain's family testified, Harrison's father along with Kenyon's mother made brief statements to Mounts. They said Chamberlain hasn't shown any remorse in taking away their loved ones.

"How could we have protected her from a cold-blooded murderer like you?" asked Anita Charest, Kenyon's mother.

Jon Burstein can be reached at jburstein@sun-sentinel.com or 561-832-2895.